Crying forces you to confront whatever you’re feeling, whether it’s disappointment, sadness, anger or frustration. And let’s face it – confronting your emotions is not easy. It’s much easier, in the short term anyway, to suppress those emotions – particularly when they’re negative. Doing the opposite requires strength, bravery and the ability to look inwards.

#2 – Crying Shows A Lack Of Concern For Social Expectations

Many of the strongest people who ever lived – from Emmeline Pankhurst to Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela – went against social expectations. They chose to do what was frowned upon at the time.

While crying won’t get you killed or imprisoned, it does remain frowned upon in society – for both genders. Men who cry arestigmatized as weak and unmanly. When women cry, they’re often called crazy or dramatic.

Crying despite that stigmatization shows that you’re not afraid to put social convention aside if it means dealing with your overwhelming emotions. That’s strength, my friend.

#3 – Crying Makes You A Leader

By openly crying, you liberate people around you. This is especially true if your tears are in response to a shared circumstance. Say you and a group of friend receive some upsetting news. If you decide to be strong and shed the first tear, the others will go ‘Hey, I guess it is okay to show emotion right now.’

Congrats, you’ve just made yourself a leader – one that people won’t fear judgement from.

#4 – Crying Shows That You Know How To Offload Stress Before It Breaks You